Published: November 04, 2008 05:31 pm         

City council meeting set for Thursday

The Crossville City Council has called a special meeting for Thursday morning at 9 a.m. to handle several items including the first reading on a city ordinance on liquor sales should the referendum on the county wide ballot pass in Tuesday's election.

In addition, water will be a big part of the meeting with council members hearing a report from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on their progress on a raw water study. The council is expected to make an appointment to the Catoosa Advisory Board to replace the late Tom Kidwell who was a member of the board at the time of his death.

The council will also hear a report from consultant Al Major of the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) who will present the results of the latest study on the city's water and sewer rates and future requirements.

The council meeting will be held in the council chambers at Crossville City Hall.

A draft of the liquor sales ordinance has been prepared by the city attorney and city clerk and is currently under review by the Alcoholic Beverage Commission and MTAS. The council will have to look at several areas of the ordinance including requirements that any licensee must have been a resident of the county for at least two years and that any partners or stockholders have been residents for at least one year.

Another decision that must be considered is if the council will limit the number of licensees allowed in the city limits. According to the agenda there are other areas that can be changed if the council wishes.

With the city talking about pulling out of the raw water study agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers over delays due to federal funding limitations, the council will hear a report at the meeting from the Corps' representatives of the work they have completed so far.

The council has been provided with three recommendations for the Catoosa Advisory Board to replace Kidwell as spelled out in the merger agreement. Names for consideration included John R. Crowder, Bill Wheeler and Daniel Smith. The council can choose one of these names and ask for additional suggestions from the board.

A short consent agenda includes the third readings of several ordinances amending sections of the city charter including rules on advertisements for alcoholic beverages, anti-noise regulations, beer regulations and a budget amendment for $5000 on industrial development engineering fees.

Also under the consent agenda are the second reading of changes to the abandoned or inoperable vehicles regulations and a budget amendment of $8500 for the recent airport fly-in.